New Passport to support veterans is launched

Anglia Ruskin will evaluate project to help veterans settle back into civilian life

A new pilot project to help veterans who are settling back in to civilian life is being launched this week and will be evaluated by Anglia Ruskin University.

The Veterans Universal Passport is a single patient-held record that will help serving personnel making their transition to civilian life and veterans who require support from multiple agencies.

It is the idea of Diane Palmer, Team Manager of the Veterans First Team at the North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP), who has developed it over several months with the help of veterans.

Diane said:

“One of the big issues we often find is veterans having to deal with several different organisations and agencies, and having to repeat detailed information many times. This can, and has, led to confusion and delay in people getting the help they need.

“The Passport keeps all the necessary information in one place that the veteran keeps with them and can show to all those organisations they are involved with. This will ensure that all organisations are fully aware of how others are supporting the veteran.

“It also contains other important information on their medical and mental health, and emergency contact details.”

The results of the pilot are to be fully evaluated at Anglia Ruskin University’s Veterans & Families Institute (VFI). If this evaluation demonstrates promising results the hope is the Passport will be rolled out nationally.

Diane continued:

“All my work and research has shown this will be a very valuable asset to veterans and I must thank both NEP and NHS England for the support they have given me. NEP has funded the design and printing of 150 copies and enabled the pilot to be undertaken at the Veterans First Service; NHS England has agreed to fund the evaluation by Anglia Ruskin.”

Matt Fossey, Director of the VFI, said:

“We are delighted to be working alongside the North Essex Veterans First Team to evaluate this ground-breaking approach to help recently discharged, vulnerable veterans. We hope that the evaluation will provide evidence that will inform all those responsible for the care of our service personnel.”

The project also has the support of the Ministry of Defence, Veterans UK and many veteran charities.

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